PhD in Digital Imaging for Plant-Based Ingredients — South East Technological University

Key details

• Host institution: South East Technological University
• Location: South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
• Application deadline: June 12, 2026

Funding

Not funded by a EU programme

Funding level (from listing): partial or not via EU framework — confirm on the official call.

How to apply

• Apply by email to [email protected] (subject line and attachments per the official instructions).
• Full vacancy text and updates: Euraxess listing.

About the position

South East Technological University (SETU) invites applications for a fully funded PhD scholarship in the Department of Land Sciences. The successful candidate will work on the VIP Ingredients project, funded by the Irish Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine.

Project Overview

VIP Ingredients aims to use precision farming, digitally enhanced processing technology, and functionality testing to extract innovative plant-based ingredients from Irish-grown fava bean, pea, lupin, and oats for food applications. The SETU team will assess the feasibility of vision and digital systems to identify parameters of interest (PoE) or biological markers across crops for feature extraction. These PoEs will form a digital foundation to improve processing and increase national food security.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply digital imaging techniques on data from drones and in-field analysis to identify points of interest, determine digital vegetation index, digital plant health and yield, and estimate composition.
• Complete commercial profiling assessing intrinsic and extrinsic factors impacting product/ingredient readiness.
• Digitally map product shelf-life through product/ingredient or supply route-specific, temporal, and dynamic profile conditions.
• Collaborate with researchers and students at Teagasc, UCC, UCD, and Irish food and agricultural companies.
• Undertake research project tasks and associated administrative work.
• Engage in research and scholarly activities of the research group.
• Disseminate research findings at national and international conferences (where possible).
• Publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals (where possible).

Scholarship Details

• Duration: 4 years (48 months), full-time
• Stipend: €25,000 per year (tax-free)
• Fees: €5,750 per annum (covered by scholarship)
• Commencement date: 1 September 2026
• Closing date: Friday, 12 June at 4pm Irish time
• Interview date: To be confirmed

Person Specification

The successful candidate should be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and able to manage their own workload. They should demonstrate problem-solving qualities, excellent organisational and administrative skills, and the ability to work to deadlines. Excellent communication skills and the ability to interact within a larger research team are essential.

Essential Qualifications

• Honours Degree (minimum 2:1) in computer science, engineering, agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry, environmental sciences, or a related area.

Desirable Qualifications

• Strong academic background in digital imaging or precision agriculture.
• Postgraduate diploma/MSc in related areas including artificial intelligence, precision agriculture, or remote sensing.

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• Knowledge in computer science, agricultural engineering, data science, precision agriculture, remote sensing, plant science, or a related discipline.
• Experience in conducting research independently.
• Experience with quantitative, analytical, or computational methods.
• Experience in communicating research findings and preparing scientific reports.
• Evidence of teamwork skills.

Desirable Knowledge & Experience

• Experience with image analysis, computer vision, machine learning, or artificial intelligence.
• Knowledge of crop science and agricultural or food systems.
• Knowledge of food analysis.
• Interest in image analysis and digital agriculture.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis and interpretation of experimental data.

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Applicants whose first language is not English must meet SETU’s English language requirements and provide all necessary documentation.
• Computer skills including Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint), Zoom/MS Teams/OBS, or similar.
• Competence in data handling and management.
• Competence in scientific writing, data presentation, and preparation of technical reports, theses, or publications.

Desirable Skills & Competencies

• Ability to manipulate and analyse datasets using programming or scripting.
• Experience in statistical or programming-based environments.

Further Information

For informal queries, contact Dr Anastasia Ktenioudaki at [email protected].

Application Procedure

Complete the online application form from the SETU website, quoting the advert reference number. Ensure all supporting documents are uploaded. For queries relating to the application and admission process, contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office at [email protected] or +353 (0)51 302883.

SETU is an equal opportunities employer.